The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-11-22
MURDER IN BERRIEN.
j. It. Beigles Kills Madison G. Pearson Mt
Rays Mia Family Feud.


From the Valdosta Ga Times
Madison G.. Pearson was killed " his
brother-in-laW, j. Il. BeigleS, at Rays mill, in
Berren county. last Friday. the 4th instant.
family feud was at the bottom of the diff
Guilty.
Beigles had married Parsons sister. The
mother Of the latter lived for sometime with
her son, but family quarrel, it seems, drove
her to her daughters home. After she took
up her abode with the Bicycles family some
question arose about the division of her small
property. One report saws that she Willcd all
she had to Mrs. BICYCLES, and thus aroused her
sons indignation, and another rumor says that'
Begles killed beef belonging to the Pearson
estate, and that this was the cause of the
trouble between the two men. AT any rate
there was trouble between them, and the old
lady took the side Of her son-in-law. Pearson, it
seems, made some threats, and Beigles had
him arrested under peace warrant. Friday,
the day OF the tragedy, was set for a hear
ing before, the justice Of the district, and
Beigles and his wife and old Mrs Pearson APP
peared at the court ground at Rays mill as
witnesses. The bailin had Madison Pearson
under arrest, and the parties at interest, and
about forty interested ncighbors, all
met at Mr.. H. il. Knights store. Begles's
father was among those present, and he APP
preached Pearson about compromise, but
Pearson thought ne had been greatly outraged,
and freely expressed his indignation lie re-
fused to accept the proposals., made by the
!
manner was not such as indicated any real de-
sire for fair compromise, and his actions and
his words were the immediate cause Of the
conflict. In reviewing the difficulty the elder
Reiges, who was standing between his son aud
Pearson, male some assertions which the lat
ter ycGcmcntly denied or disputed, and the
younger Beiglos shouted TO Pearson that lie
was liar. AT this Peason replied hotly that
if Beigles would step with him TO the ground
from the porch upon which they stood he
6trlti In nd nc no tag ,,,ff
at right angles from BICYCLES, but le struck the
ground a dead man. Bcglcs fired ut him ON
the spring, and the ball entered the side
of the head near the left temple. Pearson
doubled up as lie fell, and his head hit the
ground first. lie never spoke word, and died
in few moments. Pearson had two brothers
on the spot, and one ran TO the dying man and
the other started upon Beglcs, but he met a
cooked pistol in his face, and was warned TO
stand back or else share the fate Of his brother,
Beigleskept his face to the awe-stficken crowd,
pistol drawn, while his father pushed him
backward some thirty feet; then he turned
and they both fed. There was not a gun
pistol ON the hill that could be found, and the
two Beigles escaped. a pursuit was quickly
organized, but they had gotten out Of sight,
and are vet at large Pearson was not armed.
Pearson's mother and sister witnessed tho
murder Of their son and brother without she'd
ding a tear After sOme little time Mrs Pear
son walked up to the dead man laying upon
the ground, and stopped down and kissed hint
She then rose calmly and walked away With
out any signs Of emotion. The coroner lived
forty miles away and the bailiG who held
Pearson in custody as a prisoner when he was
killed, summoned a jury, and the Justice who
was about ~ convene his court 10 try Pearson
on peace warrant, instead Of proceeding with
the trial, swore in an inquest jury 10 sit upon
his dead body. After swearing numerous eye
Witnesses, tho jury found that tho killing was
wilfdi murder; also that the elder Beigles was
in accessory To tho deed. All the parties were
sober.